France will continue their push for a first Six Nations grand slam since 2022 as they face Italy on Sunday.
Les Bleus came into this tournament as reigning champions and popular favourites, and have more than lived up to their billing.
Fabien Galthie’s men swatted Ireland aside in a curtain-raiser at the Stade de France, before trouncing Wales 54-12 in front of a subdued crowd at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium.
With two matches played, France are the only side in the Six Nations yet to taste defeat, and will be fully intent on continuing their march towards the Grand Slam in Lille.
Italy, though, have continued their upward trend this year - gone are the days when the Azzurri were nailed on to go home with the wooden spoon every year.
They opened their tournament with a surprise defeat of Scotland at a rain-soaked Stadio Olimpico, before suffering a narrow 20-13 defeat by Ireland last time out.
They led at the break in Dublin thanks to Giacomo Nicotera’s try, but could not convert their advantage and now sit firmly in midtable, five points adrift of Sunday’s opposition.
Here is everything you need to know about the match...
France vs Italy date, kick-off time and venue
France vs Italy takes place on Sunday February 22, 2026, at Lille’s Stade Pierre-Mauroy.
Kick-off is scheduled for 3.10pm GMT.
How to watch France vs Italy
TV channel: In the UK, France vs Italy is being shown live and free to air on ITV1, with coverage beginning at 2.20pm GMT ahead of a 3.10pm kick-off.
Live stream: Fans can also watch the game live online via the ITVX website and app, which is available to those with a valid TV license.
France vs Italy team news
Given France’s form in this tournament, it is no surprise that Galthie has shied away from making grand changes to his side.
He will stick with the winning formula in the backs, making no changes from the side which faced Wales. Dupont will continue as captain, with Matthieu Jalibert at No10.
Louis Bielle-Barry, the tournament’s top try scorer thus far, assumes his usual place on the wing.
There is some rotation in the pack, though, with changes made in the second row.
Emmanuel Meafou and Thibaud Flament both get the nod, giving Mickael Guillard and Charles Ollivon a rest. Both have dropped to the bench.
There is rotation on the bench, too, as hooker Peato Mauvaka, prop George-Henri Colombe and centre Pierre-Louis Barassi are all called up in place of Maxime Lamothe, Regis Montagne and Noah Nene, respectively.
Gonzalo Quesada’s side were beaten in Ireland last weekend, but the Italy boss seems to have been suitably impressed with the performance - he makes just one change to face France.
It comes in the backs, with Lorenzo Pani dropping out of the back three and Ange Capuozzo taking the No15 shirt.
France vs Italy lineups
France XV: Ramos, Attissogbe, Gailleton, Brau-Boirie, Bielle-Biarrey, Jalibert, Dupont; Gros, Marchand, Aldegheri, Flament, Meafou, Cros, Jegou, Jelonch
Replacements: Mauvaka, Neti, Colombe, Ollivon, Guillard, Nouchi, Serin, Barassi
Italy XV: Capuzzo, Lynagh, Menoncello, Marin, Ioane, Garbisi, Fusco; Fischetti, Nicotera, Ferrari, Nannone, Zambonin, Lamaro, Zuliani, Cannone
Replacements: Dimcheff, Spagnolo, Zilocchi, Ruzza, Favretto, Odiase, Garbisi, Odogwu
France vs Italy head to head (h2h) history and results
Last year’s Six Nations saw France face Italy for the fiftieth time, with that match ending 73-24 in favour of Les Bleus.
France wins: 46
Italy wins: 3
Draws: 1
France vs Italy prediction
At face value, this clash seems to be a case of an unstoppable force meeting a movable object.
That is not to discount Italy’s remarkable progress in recent years, or their impressive defeat of Scotland in this tournament’s first matchday.
But the Azzurri will visit Lille as considerable underdogs, and will have their work cut out for them against Les Bleus, who have shown few, if any, weaknesses thus far in their campaign.
There are three more matches between France and the Grand Slam, but they will not expect their progress to be disrupted here.
France to win by 30 points.
France vs Italy match odds
France to win: 1/80
Italy to win: 30/1
Draw: 50/1
Odds via Betfair (subject to change).
